–Tax season is here and starting this month through April 11, tax assistance will be available on Saturdays at the Central Library Auditorium, 801 W. Irving Blvd. (The library has closed for checking out books while staff gets ready for the move to the South Library.) The tax help is for middle to low-income residents. Volunteers will work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more details, visit cityofirving.org.

–The Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., has opened two new exhibits. They are “Big Bend: Photographs by Terry Cockerham,” which will run through May 31, and “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books,” which runs through April 26. Admission for both exhibits is free.

–Residents interested in becoming a candidate for a City Council position can now obtain a candidate packet from the City Secretary’s Office at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd. Packets also are available at cityofirving.org. This year, at-large council district Place 8 and single-member district council Places 4 and 6 will be elected in the general election to be held on May 9.

The Irving Arts Center presents “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books” through April 26.

The exhibit contains 60 masterpieces of original illustration art in one of the most extensive public showings ever from American publishing’s best loved picture-book series, Little Golden Books.

Launched in 1942 against the backdrop of World War II, Little Golden Books made high quality illustrated books available at affordable prices for the first time to millions of young children and their parents.

The exhibit is on a tour organized by the Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas.

The performances of the Irving Berlin classic will feature the 38-piece Lyric Stage orchestra under the baton of Lyric Stage music director Jay Dias playing Robert Russell Bennett and Ruth Anderson’s orchestrations. Ann Nieman will direct and choreograph the production.

–Today is the last day of the “Peruvian Gold: Ancient Treasures Unearthed” exhibit at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Tickets are $8-$12. Call 972-252-2787.

–Fresh cut Christmas trees will be collected as a regular part of Irving’s weekly brush/bulky waste pick-up through Jan. 9. Weekly brush/bulky waste collection are offered the same day as curbside recycling. To find out more about curbside recycling and weekly brush/bulky waste collection, please call (972) 721-2232. Residents also have the option to take their Christmas trees to any of the following drop-off locations through Jan. 8.

–The Irving Animal Care Campus, 4140 Valley View Lane, invites residents to participate in the 2014 Comfort and Joy Drive through today. The drive is an opportunity to provide comfort to Irving’s homeless shelter animals and show generosity this holiday season. Residents can participate in two ways: visit the IACC, select a shelter animal, purchase items for that pet and return the items to the IACC; or make a tax deductible monetary donation at the IACC or online at cityofirving.org. For more information, call 972-721-2256.

–The Irving Animal Care Campus, 4140 Valley View Lane, invites residents to participate in the 2014 Comfort and Joy Drive through Wednesday. The drive is an opportunity to provide comfort to Irving’s homeless shelter animals and show generosity this holiday season. Residents can participate in two ways: visit the IACC, select a shelter animal, purchase items for that pet and return the items to the IACC; or make a tax deductible monetary donation at the IACC or online at cityofirving.org. For more information, call the IACC at 972-721-2256.

–It’s pretty quiet throughout the city today so not much to list. But one thing to do is catch the “Peruvian Gold: Ancient Treasures Unearthed” exhibit at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. The exhibit runs through Dec. 31 in the Main Gallery. Tickets are $8-$12. Call 972-252-2787.

–Many area churches will hold Christmas Eve services today.

–Residents can also check out the display of lights from dusk until 10 p.m. through Dec. 29 at Centennial Park, 444 W. Second St.